Wawashkamo Golf Course to Host Alzheimer’s Fundraiser Saturday

Dorothy Dehring was 52 when she was diagnosed with dementia, and, since then, her daughter, Sarah, has been participating in fundraisers to find a cure for degenerative brain diseases.

To raise money for her participation in the annual “Walk to End Alzheimer’s” in Detroit, Wawashkamo Golf Club will host a “Fight to Cure Alzheimer’s Outing” Saturday, June 25, at 11 a.m. The Detroit event is October 1.

Dorothy Dehring and her husband,

Jack, are Mackinac Island residents, and their daughter said she is thankful for the support the community has given her family. Jack Dehring works at Wawashkamo, which makes the golf club the perfect place for the fundraiser, she said.

“People from the Island have been very generous,” she said. “It’s a fun fundraiser.”

There is a fee of $100 per person to participate, and golfers can register in threesomes or foursomes. Individuals looking for teammates may call Wawashkamo Golf Club at (906) 847-3871.

Local businesses have donated prizes to be auctioned.

In the United States, more than five million adults are living with Alzheimer’s disease, a type of dementia that affects memory and other brain functions. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, one in three senior citizens dies with Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia.

Mrs. Dehring has youngeronset dementia, which means she was diagnosed before she was 65 years old. There are 200,000 individuals in the U.S. who suffer from younger-onset degenerative brain diseases.

“It started with memory loss,” her daughter said. “She started to lose her speech.”

Now, Mrs. Dehring is losing her mobility. Her husband is her caregiver.

As the Baby Boomer generation ages, health experts are increasingly concerned about an increase in Alzheimer’s and dementia. The Dehrings hope to do their part to find a cure for these diseases.

So far, Ms. Dehring’s team for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s has raised $2,163 of its $10,000 goal.

For those interested in registering for the Wawashkamo Fight to Cure Alzheimer’s Outing, e-mail Mr. Dehring at jdehring2@gmail.com or call Wawashkamo Golf Club to sign up.

People may also participate in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s at Comerica Park in Detroit in the fall.